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Jacob Blanton, Deputy Fire Chief
Jacob Blanton, Deputy Fire Chief
Chief Jacob “Jake” Blanton currently serves as the Deputy Director/Fire Chief of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD). He has worked for JFRD for more than 30 years, beginning in 1994 as an emergency communications officer (911 dispatcher).A longtime resident of the Jacksonville area, Chief Blanton is a Florida-certified paramedic and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Supervision and Management from Florida State College at Jacksonville.
Chief Blanton progressed through the officer ranks of JFRD at an impressive pace. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2003, captain in 2005, and district chief in 2008. As a district chief, he was primarily responsible for supervising EMS care provided by JFRD personnel. His duties also included serving as a liaison between hospital emergency departments, administrative staff, and field personnel. He routinely performed command staff functions at major incidents.
In 2015, Chief Blanton joined the JFRD administrative team as the Deputy Division Chief of Rescue. In this role, he established policies and ensured compliance related to JFRD’s daily EMS operations. In April 2023, he was appointed Division Chief of Rescue—a significant milestone in his fire service career. As division chief, he led a fleet of 65 Advanced Life Support (ALS) rescue units staffed by more than 400 uniformed personnel, serving a response area of over 840 square miles—the largest metropolitan area in the United States.
Beyond his formal roles, Chief Blanton has contributed to many unique and impactful initiatives within JFRD, including the Fire Communication Center (911 center), the Office of Quality Improvement, the Providing Assistance to the Homeless (PATH) program, the Coordinated Opioid Recovery (CORe) program, the Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) program, and the Mobile Stroke Transport Unit (MSTU) program.
With his recent appointment as Deputy Director/Fire Chief in July 2025, Chief Blanton has reached a pinnacle in his distinguished fire service career, now serving as the second in command.
Chief Blanton progressed through the officer ranks of JFRD at an impressive pace. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2003, captain in 2005, and district chief in 2008. As a district chief, he was primarily responsible for supervising EMS care provided by JFRD personnel. His duties also included serving as a liaison between hospital emergency departments, administrative staff, and field personnel. He routinely performed command staff functions at major incidents.
In 2015, Chief Blanton joined the JFRD administrative team as the Deputy Division Chief of Rescue. In this role, he established policies and ensured compliance related to JFRD’s daily EMS operations. In April 2023, he was appointed Division Chief of Rescue—a significant milestone in his fire service career. As division chief, he led a fleet of 65 Advanced Life Support (ALS) rescue units staffed by more than 400 uniformed personnel, serving a response area of over 840 square miles—the largest metropolitan area in the United States.
Beyond his formal roles, Chief Blanton has contributed to many unique and impactful initiatives within JFRD, including the Fire Communication Center (911 center), the Office of Quality Improvement, the Providing Assistance to the Homeless (PATH) program, the Coordinated Opioid Recovery (CORe) program, the Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) program, and the Mobile Stroke Transport Unit (MSTU) program.
With his recent appointment as Deputy Director/Fire Chief in July 2025, Chief Blanton has reached a pinnacle in his distinguished fire service career, now serving as the second in command.